Still Catholic?

[clarkage]

So I’m not really sure if I am in the right forum to post this, but I had a question that I wanted to know an answer to. I was raised Catholic until I was probably eight or ten or so. I am now seventeen and after I was ten I stopped going to mass. It was not a personal choice; my family simply stopped going due to schedules. I believe in Catholic doctrines and was baptised as an infant, but I wanted to know if I was still able to consider myself a Catholic? ie. am I still able to participate in Holy Communion? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.

 

[Victorious]

So I’m not really sure if I am in the right forum to post this, but I had a question that I wanted to know an answer to. I was raised Catholic until I was probably eight or ten or so. I am now seventeen and after I was ten I stopped going to mass. It was not a personal choice; my family simply stopped going due to schedules. I believe in Catholic doctrines and was baptised as an infant, but I wanted to know if I was still able to consider myself a Catholic? ie. am I still able to participate in Holy Communion? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.

You’re still a Catholic. Seek out a good priest and get back into it!

 

[paramedicgirl]

So I’m not really sure if I am in the right forum to post this, but I had a question that I wanted to know an answer to. I was raised Catholic until I was probably eight or ten or so. I am now seventeen and after I was ten I stopped going to mass. It was not a personal choice; my family simply stopped going due to schedules. I believe in Catholic doctrines and was baptised as an infant, but I wanted to know if I was still able to consider myself a Catholic? ie. am I still able to participate in Holy Communion? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.

If you have been away from the church for any length of time, you should talk to your priest and make a general confession. Have you received the sacrament of confession and first communion yet? What about confirmation? Talk to your peiest about that, too. And welcome back!

 

[johnnycatholic]

Once a Catholic, always a Catholic. God bless you for answering God’s call home!

 

[puzzleannie]

you were baptized Catholic you will always be Catholic. If you have already make your first communion, make a good confession and return to the Eucharist at the earliest opportunity. Make an appointment with the priest to arrange for Confirmation so you can complete your Christian initiation and claim the gifts and strength of the Holy Spirit. Welcome home.

 

[paramedicgirl]

Once a Catholic, always a Catholic. God bless you for answering God’s call home!

Not so, according to the answers I got in this thread titled the same as your post here. If a person leaves the Catholic faith for another religion, then, no, they are no longer Catholic.

 

[I_A]

Not so, according to the answers I got in this thread titled the same as your post here. If a person leaves the Catholic faith for another religion, then, no, they are no longer Catholic.

In the other thread the theoretical Joe formally rejected his faith and chose not to be called Catholic, in this thread there was none of this.

 

[paramedicgirl]

In the other thread the theoretical Joe formally rejected his faith and chose not to be called Catholic, in this thread there was none of this.

Yes, that is true, but the saying, once a Catholic, always a Catholic, is misleading. It does apply to fallen away Catholics who have not left for another religion, though.

 

[I_A]

Yes, that is true, but the saying, once a Catholic, always a Catholic, is misleading. It does apply to fallen away Catholics who have not left for another religion, though.

Well that is true too. Once you are baptized your soul is permenantly set aside for Christ. Even if you leave the church formally you are still Catholic in that sense. Even if you were never formally a Catholic but were validly baptized in another denomination you are Catholic. But if you don’t claim to be Catholic the Church isn’t going to say you have to go to fast during Lent and stuff. The Church isn’t going to require you to get married in a Catholic church if you don’t consider yourself Catholic, etc. Because not following the precepts of the church is a sin, but if you don’t think the church has God given authority then the precepts of the church would be arbitrary.

I probably didn’t use the precise terms, somebody could probably explain it better than me. Or I may be wrong, but this is how I understand it.

 

[I_A]

I found some catechism passages:

CCC:

1272 Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, the person baptized is    configured to Christ. Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible    spiritual mark (character) of his belonging to Christ. No sin can erase    this mark, even if sin prevents Baptism from bearing the fruits of    salvation.[82] Given once for all, Baptism cannot be repeated.

1273 Incorporated into the Church by Baptism, the faithful have received the sacramental character that consecrates them for Christian religious worship.[83] The baptismal seal enables and commits Christians to serve God by a vital participation in the holy liturgy of the Church and to exercise their baptismal priesthood by the witness of holy lives and practical charity.[84]

1274 The Holy Spirit has marked us with the seal of the Lord ("Dominicus    character") "for the day of redemption."[85] "Baptism indeed is the seal    of eternal life."[86] The faithful Christian who has "kept the seal" until    the end, remaining faithful to the demands of his Baptism, will be able to    depart this life "marked with the sign of faith,"[87] with his baptismal    faith, in expectation of the blessed vision of God - the consummation of    faith - and in the hope of resurrection.

838 “The Church knows that she is joined in many ways to the baptized who are honored by the name of Christian, but do not profess the Catholic faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity or communion under the successor of Peter.”[322] Those “who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church.”[323] With the Orthodox Churches, this communion is so profound “that it lacks little to attain the fullness that would permit a common celebration of the Lord’s Eucharist.”[324]

 

[jmcrae]

Not so, according to the answers I got in this thread titled the same as your post here. If a person leaves the Catholic faith for another religion, then, no, they are no longer Catholic.

He didn’t make a formal renunciation of the Catholic faith in order to start practicing a different religion, though - he just hasn’t been to Mass in a really long time. There’s a big difference.

Also, a child has to go where his parents take him - it’s not like it was his idea to stop going to Mass.

 

[paramedicgirl]

He didn’t make a formal renunciation of the Catholic faith in order to start practicing a different religion, though - he just hasn’t been to Mass in a really long time. There’s a big difference.

Also, a child has to go where his parents take him - it’s not like it was his idea to stop going to Mass.

JM, I’m not saying that he did. All I’m saying is that the phrase quoted could mislead someone into thinking that you are always a Catholic, even if you formally renounce your Catholic faith. Which, I am aware does not apply to the OP. Clear as mud???

 

[lak611]

All I’m saying is that the phrase quoted could mislead someone into thinking that you are always a Catholic, even if you formally renounce your Catholic faith.

Even then, if the person wanted to return to the Catholic faith, he still could, if he renounced his other religion and received the Sacrament of Penance.

 

[mikew262]

Even if you were never formally a Catholic but were validly baptized in another denomination you are Catholic.

Hmm…I’m not sure that is totally correct. According to your later CCC post, that person may be indirectly in communion with the Church (Church recognizes they are Christian, just as Catholics are Christians), but I’m not sure that means they are actually Catholic. However, I could be wrong.

A Baptist’s head would pop right off, if you suggested he/she were actually Catholic.

 

[jmcrae]

Even then, if the person wanted to return to the Catholic faith, he still could, if he renounced his other religion and received the Sacrament of Penance.

That’s true - he wouldn’t be required to re-do any of the Initiation Sacraments - once you’re Baptized, you’re Baptized - even joining the Mormons can’t cause your Baptism to go away - and once you’ve received Confirmation and First Holy Communion, those are also unrepeatable.

A wise pastor might ask the person to sit in on an RCIA Catechism class, or other adult education in order to “get caught up” and become better informed about his Catholic faith, but the person wouldn’t have to repeat his Sacraments - he’s already got them.

 

[yessisan]

Once a Catholic, always a Catholic. God bless you for answering God’s call home!

The pastor at my parish said this same thing. My DH was a confirmed Catholic, and renounced the CC and became and baptized as a JW. The pastor, including the ones in the marriage tribunal and including canon lawyers in my diocese say that my husband is always going to be a Catholic. Once baptized, you will be one forever. It’s like a scar. It’s there forever.

 

[paramedicgirl]

The pastor at my parish said this same thing. My DH was a confirmed Catholic, and renounced the CC and became and baptized as a JW. The pastor, including the ones in the marriage tribunal and including canon lawyers in my diocese say that my husband is always going to be a Catholic. Once baptized, you will be one forever. It’s like a scar. It’s there forever.

Yes, there is only one baptism. Baptism leaves an indelible mark on the soul that can never be erased. I ahve read, though Ican’t remember where, that even in hell, the mark of baptism is visible.

 

[lak611]

That’s true - he wouldn’t be required to re-do any of the Initiation Sacraments - once you’re Baptized, you’re Baptized - even joining the Mormons can’t cause your Baptism to go away - and once you’ve received Confirmation and First Holy Communion, those are also unrepeatable.

A wise pastor might ask the person to sit in on an RCIA Catechism class, or other adult education in order to “get caught up” and become better informed about his Catholic faith, but the person wouldn’t have to repeat his Sacraments - he’s already got them.

There is an answer to that on Ask an Apologist. Here’s the thread: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=1763100#post1763100